Vishesh's Bread Stuffing 'Meatballs' on Pink Vodka Penne Pasta, with Portobello and Parmesan

The Ratty is famous for a number of finely crafted, salivation-inducing entrees: Cajun Chicken Pasta, Castle Hill Inn Pork Spare Ribs, Polynesian Chicken Wings, Spicy Herb Baked Chicken, and Salmon with Minted Pea Puree, to name a few.

Vegetarian entrees, however, often don't get their share in the limelight. Cue the boundless creativity of our fellow vegetarian Ratty-going Brunonians!

A big thanks to Vishesh Jain, chef and mastermind of the following recipe featuring "meatballs" with pink vodka penne pasta. Utilizing hearty bread stuffing in the shape of meatballs and topped with savory mushrooms and Parmesan cheese, it is sure to satisfy even the stubbornest of meaty cravings.

In the chef's words: "First, I did not plan the alliteration--it just happened. Yesterday they had meatballs in the Ratty, and I was craving some warm, condensed deliciousness. I'm vegetarian though, so I decided to make my own with bread stuffing, plus some portobello for marinated meatiness."

Vishesh's Bread Stuffing 'Meatballs' on Pink Vodka Penne Pasta, with Portobello and Parmesan
1 cup cooked penne pasta
2 tsp Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup pink vodka sauce
6-8 slices of portobello mushrooms
1/2 cup of bread stuffing
Oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to taste

Mix 1 tsp Parmesan cheese and the bread stuffing well, and mold into balls by hand or with a spoon. On a plate, microwave for 50s, flipping them over and compressing them at 25s. Microwave the portobello lined on the side of a bowl for 30s, and press them to drain the excess liquid.

Add the sauce and stir in the seasonings to taste, and microwave for 30s more, or until the sauce has reduced to desired consistency. (The Ratty's pink vodka sauce is often a little thin and watery for my taste; if you like it that way, use less sauce and reduce it less.)

On a plate, add in order the penne, meatballs, portobello, excess sauce, and Parmesan. Microwave for 30s, and enjoy it hot!

Ashley's Festive Bowtie Pasta

It's that time of year again - the post-thanksgiving-pre-winter-break slump. It is the time of year when snow really should stop procrastinating its act, when CVS starts thinking it's okay to play only Christmas songs, when people start hoping for donuts at the sci li, and when most of our stomachs are still recovering from pounds of roast poultry, potatoes, pie, and more pie.

Fortunately, the Ratty has just the antidote. A hearty thanks to Ashley So for sharing her elegant pasta recipe - delicately balanced with the tartness of tomatoes and feta against savory morsels of hot dog a la refectorie de sharpe, and drizzled in heart healthy basil infused extra virgin olive oil, this dish is light, fresh, and sure to delight.

Ashley's Festive Bowtie Pasta
bowtie pasta
parmesan cheese
feta cheese
cherry tomatoes
sliced hotdog
lots of basil infused extra virgin olive oil
dash of salt and pepper

Mix cheese, tomatoes, and hotdog with pasta. Drizzle generously with olive oil; add salt and pepper to taste.

Kiwi's Breakfast Pumpkin Pie

With the leaves changing color and autumn in the air, we are delighted to welcome the new season with this breakfast pumpkin pie created by Kiwi Lee. Special thanks to Kiwi for her lovely photos - the blurry Times in the background is undoubtedly a subtle yet deliberate prod to vote in the upcoming election. While you mull over who to pick to lead our country, the vitamin A in your pumpkin and cranberries will sharpen your vision for choosing the better candidate...

Kiwi's Breakfast Pumpkin Pie 

2/3 coffee cup pumpkin (from the morning steel-cut oatmeal bar)
dash of cinnamon and nutmeg
1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds, craisins, and/or granola - your pick!
1/3 coffee cup soymilk, milk, or French Vanilla creamer
brown sugar, sugar or splenda (optional, to taste)
1 pinch salt

In a coffee cup, preferably the new tall kind from the Ratty:
Fill up about 2/3 with the pumpkin available in the morning steel-cut oatmeal bar. Sprinkle a dash or two of cinnamon and nutmeg (Tip from Kiwi: I like a 2:1 ratio. Also, be careful not to add too much--cinnamon/nutmeg can get bitter and overwhelming.).

Add a spoonful of pumpkin seeds, craisins, and/or granola for a bit of texture and crunch. Fill cup the rest of the way with either Original or Vanilla soymilk. (Vanilla's much sweeter than the Original but it adds flavor, too! You could always use regular milk as well.) This makes the mash smoother and creamier, but make sure to leave a little room so you can mix at the end. Sweeten to taste with brown sugar (preferred), sugar, Splenda, etc. (I usually add two packets of Splenda with original soymilk and that turns out just right for me.)

PRO TIP: Add a dash of salt, but not too much! It really enhances all of the other flavors. Mix together. Enjoy chilled or pop it in the microwave to have it warm. For added crunch, garnish with a mix of brown sugar and granola.

Roast Beef with Corn Bread

The recreated plate from our very own le réfectoire de sharpe, inspired by...


...a fine bistro in downtown Providence.

To be fair, the original featured a lovely blueberry compote instead of grape jelly; it wasn't actually roast beef it was foie; and the "cornbread" was actually a buttery toasted brioche.

But all that aside, this humble re-make didn't end up tasting all that bad. With a little creativity and a lot of free time we hope you'll find that playing with food can be fun, and might occasionally yield edible results.

Roast Beef with Corn Bread

2 packets of grape jelly
1 slice of roast beef
1 slice of cornbread
1 peach
1 pat of butter
1 tablespoon of honey
salad greens, for garnish

Mix the grape jelly up in a small bowl. Using a fork and/or your fingers, make a smear of grape jelly on a plate. Arrange the roast beef on top. Cut the cornbread into a circular disk using an empty cup and place next to the roast beef. Crumble the rest of the cornbread and sprinkle crumbs on the plate.

To make the peaches, slice a peach into a small bowl. Add butter and honey, and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until peaches are soft and butter and sugar has dissolved. Arrange peach slices on top of cornbread.

Garnish with small salad greens.

Vegetarian Chili

Ah, Superbowl Sunday. Even for those of us non-vegetarians, a meatless meal can provide a much appreciated break from those saturated-fat-laden-protein-fests that celebratory sports-watching often dissolves into. Chock full of mushrooms, cheese, herb-y tomato sauce, and two types of beans, this hearty chili is healthy yet deliciously filling. Your arteries will thank you.

Vegetarian Chili

1/4 cup vegan Italian white beans

2 tablespoons garbanzo beans

2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper

2 tablespoons sliced mushrooms

1/4 cup meatless tomato sauce

shredded cheese

cheese crisp and salad green leaf, for garnish

Mix the beans, bell pepper, mushrooms, and tomato sauce in a bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes, until mushrooms are tender. Top with shredded cheese. Garnish with a cheese crisp and salad leaf.

Cheese Crisp

2 tablespoons shredded cheese

Create a small mound of cheese on a plate. Melt in the microwave for 1.5 min, or until cheese is golden and bubbly. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, until crisp. Using a fork, peel the cheese crisp off of the plate for garnishing or snacking.

Lemon Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich

For those of us who are done with finals, almost done with finals, plowing through those last four pages of that final paper, not leaving until the 21st, in need of dessert, missing the snow, missed the NDR, in need of sleep, tired of the same old vanilla soft serve in a cone - we offer this humble, three-ingredient ice cream sandwich. Happy (almost) holidays

Lemon Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich
2 lemon cookies
vanilla soft serve ice cream
oreo pieces

Dispense soft serve into a bowl and sandwich between two cookies. Shower liberally with crushed oreo topping.

Fruity Chicken Caesar Salad

With finals approaching, it may be tempting to skip lunch for that review session, but listen to your stomach and brain when they cry out for nourishment. Try whipping up something quick such as this Fruity Chicken Caesar Salad, inspired by the talented chef Yanqiang Tan. Crispy bites of chicken pack the protein and energy while raisins and fresh cherry tomatoes give a vitamin-rich boost. Your brain (and maybe even your GPA) will thank you.

Fruity Chicken Caesar Salad

1 plateful of shredded romaine lettuce
5-8 cherry tomatoes
6-7 croutons
2 tablespoons raisins
2-3 pieces chicken fingers
2 tablespoons Caesar salad dressing

With a butter knife, dice the chicken fingers into 1/2 inch cubes. Toss the lettuce, tomatoes, and raisins with Caesar salad dressing and top with croutons and diced chicken.

Cilantro Grilled Chicken with Apple Butter Mushrooms

What's the difference between regular ol' grilled chicken and Gourmet Grilled Chicken? The secret is in the Mushroom Sauce. There might be a few secrets in the grilling too, but for those of us who aren't in charge of the grilling, we can still make a hot buttery sauce to dress up our bird.

With some white space on the plate and a healthy dose of imagination, you might just trick yourself into thinking you're dining at l'refectorie Sharpe.

Cilantro Grilled Chicken with Apple Butter Mushrooms
1 large piece of roasted sweet potato
broccoli rabe
1 Cilantro Grilled Chicken breast
Apple Butter Mushrooms (see recipe below)

Scrape out the flesh of the sweet potato and mash with a fork. Discard the skin. Place mashed sweet potato on plate, then top with broccoli rabe and grilled chicken. Finish with a spoonful or two of Apple Butter Mushrooms.

Apple Butter Mushrooms
1/4 cup apple juice
2 butter packets (1 Tbps)
5-6 mushroom slices
pinch salt

Put all ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until butter melts and mushrooms are cooked.

Muenster Muffin Melt

When Providence weather gives you the chills, make yourself a Muenster Muffin Melt. Thanks to our friend Yanqiang for yet another oozingly scrumptious creation!

(I confess that I personally did not taste the finished product but who really would doubt hot melted cheese on toasted English muffins?)



Yanqiang's Muenster Muffin Melt
slice of muenster
sliced mushrooms
sliced zucchini
roast beef
1 English muffin, sliced and toasted

Toast the English muffin. Place bottom of muffin on a plate, and top with veggies, beef, and cheese. Top with other half of muffin. Microwave for 40 seconds or until cheese is melted and oozing onto the plate. Eat on a chilly autumn day.

Josh's Cheesy Fries with Sausage

A shout out to our friend Josh for providing the genius behind this finger-lickin' savory dish. Somewhat reminiscent of the Canadian favorite they call poutine, Josh's creation hits the spot with its comforting combination of protein, potatoes, and gooey melted cheese.

Josh's Cheesy Fries with Sausage

thick-cut fries

1 sausage, or hot dog, sliced

1 slice provolone cheese

Place sausage and fries in a bowl and top with provolone cheese. Nuke in the microwave for about 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired, and enjoy.

Lily's Glorious Cream of Wheat with Golden Raisins

Things you should never pass up for tests and papers: sleep, breakfast, and golden raisins from the Ratty.

A hearty thanks to our friend Lily for providing us with the inspiration for this recipe! Simple yet wholesome, healthy yet flavorful, this elegant take on cream of wheat is sure to satisfy a hungry appetite during finals week.

Lily's Glorious Cream of Wheat with Golden Raisins

cream of wheat

skim or whole milk

golden raisins

Mix together and enjoy!

Broccoli Rabe with Three Pastas

If you can't make it to Federal Hill because of that paper that needs to get done by tonight, have no fear. Transform the Ratty into your favorite Italian restaurant with a trio of pastas and some garlicky broccoli rabe. Buon Appetito!

Broccoli Rabe with Three Pastas

broccoli rabe

conchiglie with pesto

whole wheat penne with meatless tomato sauce

gnocchi with melted cheese and basil

Arrange on a plate and savor each bite.

Fruity Easter Salad

A fresh fruity salad hits the spot for brunch on a sunny Easter Sunday.

Fruity Easter Salad

baby spinach

romaine lettuce

green beans with sesame

cantaloupe, pineapple, honey dew melon chunks

cucumbers, sliced

golden raisins

feta cheese

balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Toss everything together and enjoy!

Scallops, Tomatoes, and Fennel at Earth Week 2011

Thursday night's Earth Week dinner featured chef Jody Adams' Seared Scallops with Sunchokes, Peas, and Herbs, Braised Fennel, local tomatoes, and more!

Squash Bisque with Cheesy Bacon Collard Greens

The Ratty's squash bisque is delicious on its own - a delicious balance of sweet and savory blended into a velvety smooth creamy soup. You can customize it by adding a personal spin, such as what we did here with bacon collard greens, cheese, scallions, and a slice of whole grain Seven Stars Bread.

Squash Bisque with Cheesy Bacon Collard Greens

1 bowl of squash bisque

bacon collard greens

1 slice of cheddar cheese

scallions

1 slice of Seven Stars Whole Grain Bread

1. Put cheese and half of collard greens on top and microwave until cheese melts - about 20 seconds.

2. Top with the rest of the collard greens and scallions.

3. Enjoy with the bread!

Golden Raisin Spring Salad

What is the difference between a golden raisin and a purple raisin? Maybe the golden ones have a little more tang, or have a brighter, crisper flavor. Whatever the difference, these little jewels of sunshine are just bursting with spring!

Golden Raisin Spring Salad

1 plate of mixed greens

grape tomatoes

golden raisins

white beans

balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil

1. Top the greens with the tomatoes, raisins, and white beans.

2. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top.

Easy Peasy Beans

When you are in a rush and want to eat something nutritious yet simple, go for an assortment of beans, peas, veggies, and tuna. This combination almost has all the colors of the rainbow! Now if only there were some purple eggplant and blue...uh blue...raspberries?

Easy Peasy Beans

shredded zucchini

sauteed green beans

steamed green peas

pinto beans

black beans

garbanzo beans

halved cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup serving of tuna

1 tsp ranch dressing (or your favorite dressing)

1 tsp sour cream

1 tsp mayonnaise

1. Arrange zucchini, beans, peas, tomatoes, and tuna on a plate.

2. Drizzle tomato with dressing.

3. Top the tuna with sour cream and mayo.

"Andreas-style" Spinach Mushroom Pita Sandwich

As I was savoring a particularly juicy, cheese-smothered mushroom in my Greek veggie sandwich the other day at Andreas, it suddenly occurred to me: I had, at the Ratty, pretty much all the ingredients conveniently at my disposal to recreate that very same sandwich.

Mushrooms, spinach, tomato, onion, swiss and American cheese are ordinary on their own but absolutely wonderful in a warm pita nuked in the microwave for a minute or so. Served with a romaine lettuce salad, you could seriously imagine that you are dining at a particular Greek restaurant on Thayer street.

"Andreas-style" Spinach Mushroom Pita Sandwich

1 pita

plateful of spinach

1 slice of American cheese

2 slices of swiss cheese

sliced mushrooms

2-3 slices of tomato

2-3 onion rings

golden raisins (optional but very yummy)

1 large piece of wax paper

1. Microwave spinach and mushrooms on a plate for 2 minutes, or until spinach is cooked.

2. Place tomatoes and onions in a pita. Layer spinach-mushroom mixture on top and sprinkle with golden raisins, if using.

3. Place cheese on top and roll the pita up on both sides. Wrap a wax paper "diaper" on one end.

4. Nuke in the microwave for about 1 minute to melt the cheese.

5. Serve warm with a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers (olives and feta too if available).

Festive Cajun Chicken Pasta

This dish was put together in a matter of minutes using the Ratty's spicy Tastes of the World Cajun chicken pasta, tater tots, corn salad, steamed peas, white beans from the salad bar, and mixed greens. The spicy pasta sauce provides a nice flavor contrast to the salty crunch tater tots and sweet corn and peas. As a cheesy Food Network host would say, "It's a flavor party in your mouth!"

Festive Cajun Chicken Pasta

1 serving of Tastes of the World Cajun Chicken Pasta (or any pasta with spicy sauce)

1/4 cup steamed green peas

1/4 cup corn salad

1 Tbsp white beans

4 tater tots, broken in half

mixed salad greens for garnish

1. Mix in with the pasta the peas, corn, beans, and tater tots.

2. Garnish with greens and enjoy!

Luck of the Irish Veggies and Corned Beef

Fortune shines upon those who eat a rainbow of veggies with their protein!

Luck of the Irish Veggies and Corned Beef

broccoli, microwaved with water and garlic infused olive oil for 2 min

herbed slice carrots

baby tomatoes

sliced corned beef

irish soda bread

Arrange food on plate and enjoy!